Steering device for automobiles or other vehicles.



No. 7|4,50|. Patented Nov, 25, I902.

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STEERING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES OR OTHER VEHICLES.

(Appxicagnmz filed Jun. 24. 1902.)

' ATTORNEYif M mus PETERS co, vuorouma. wAsMms'rQn, n. c

NITED TA'rns WINTHROP L. MEAD, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

STEERI'NG' DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES OR OTHER VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,501, dated November25, 1902.

Application-filed January 24, 1902. Serial No. 91,041. (No model.)

T otZZ whom it may concern: Be it known that I, WINTHROP L. MEAD, a

citizen of the United States, residing at South Orange, in the county ofEssex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Steering Devices for Automobiles or other Vehicles; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference markedcureother advantages and results, some of which may be referred tohereinafter in connection with the description of the working parts.

The invention consists in the improved steering device for automobilesand other vehicles and in the arrangements and combinations of parts ofthe same, all substantially as will be hereinafter set forth, andfinally embraced in theclauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters andfigures of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the severalfigures, Figure 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, of theforward framework and steering apparatus of an automobile or othervehicle. Fig. 3 is a plan and side view of-a certain eccentric and itslever-like strap. Figs. 4 to 7 are detail views of modified forms ofseats'or bearings for the said eccentric and strap and which lastfigures will be more fully described hereinafter. Said Figs. 3 to 7 eachillustrate the respective parts both in plan and elevation.

In said drawings, h and 3 indicate bars adapt-ed to extend from side toside of the body of the vehicle, the bar 3 being curved so as to lieclose to the bar 71. at its opposite ends and at the center of thevehicle to lie a little distance abovethe said bar 77., the said bars hand 3 being coupled or connected at their opposite extremities by endconnections 4 4, which latter provide pivotal bearings 5 5 for the axles6 6, upon which the running- Wheels (not shown) are arranged in anysuitable manner. The frame 3, h, and 4 serves as one of the supports forthe body of the vehicle in any proper manner, the said body or thesprings thereof being seated upon chairs 7 7, formed on or attached tothe bar 3.

' At the centers of the bars h and 3 are arranged or securedbearing-pieces e and t' for the steering apparatus hereinafterdescribed. The bearing-piece t' in some cases where the steering-barfisvertically in line with the bar 3 consists of a cross-coupling, as shownin Fig. 2. When the said bar f is arranged a little forward of or alittle at the rear of the said bar 3, then a bearing-piece,such as isillustrated in Fig. 7, may be employed. In vertical line with thebearing-piece t' on or of the bar h is the bearing-piece e. The saidpiece 6 serves as a connection for sections of said bar It and as abearing for the steering-rod f. The said piece 6 provides at its upperside a seat 6, upon which an eccentric a and an eccentric-strap b areseated, the said piece a beingprovided with a hole or passage m for thesteering-shaft f and with a hole n for a fulcrumal bolt n.

I have shown in Figs. 3, at, and 6 three varieties of the piece 6, thevariety shown in Fig. t serving when the rod f is in vertical line withthe bar 71., the variety of Fig. 5 being employed when the bar It lies alittle behind the barf, and the variety of Fig. 6 showing the piece whenthe bar h is in front of the bar m, the passage 0 of the piece 6 beingadapted to receive the said bar h, which may be and when used with thepiece shown in Fig. 4 preferably is in sections.

The piece 6 is brazed or otherwise rigidly secured upon the bar it, sothat it cannot turn thereon. Upon the piece 6 is arranged the .eccentricct, fastened rigidly and securely upon the bar or rod f. Around saideccentric is arranged the eccentric-strap b, which is a lever fulcrumedupon the bolt n, secured in the hole 91 of the piece e, the saideccentricstrap being slotted, as at c, Where it receives the said boltto prevent binding when the co centric is turned with the rodor barf. Atthe rear end the strap or lever b is extended, as at b, theextensionbeing perforated, as at pp, to receive pivotspp forconnecting-rods 9, having at their opposite ends forgings J, providingpivotal perforations for the said bolts 19, by which they may be looselyconnected to the eccentric-straps. The said rods 9 connect with the arms11 of the pivotal axles. Said parts are so arranged as to cause aturning of the axles on their bolts or pivots 5 when the rodf, theeccentric a, and eccentric-strap b are turned on their bearings. Toeffect the turning of said rod f with convenience, I have provided thesame at its upper end with a handle 1, which is bolted at the extremityof the said rod or barf, so that said handle may be raised to permit themotorman to conveniently pass to or from his seat, but maintain such arelation to said barf as that the two will normally turn together.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. Thecombination with the frame of a vehicle providing pivoted axles and abearingplate therebetween having a hole or passage for the steering-rodand a fulcrum for an cecentric-strap, of said steering-rod and means forturning the same, an eccentric seated on said bearing-plate and adaptedto be turned by said steering-rod and a lever-like eccentric-strap alsoseated on said bearing-plate and slotted at its fulcrum and having anarm or extension I), and rods connecting with said extension and withsaid axles, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the frame of the vehicle having a rod h, withpivoted axles at opposite ends and a bearing-plate rigidly fixedintermediate thereof, said plate providing a seat, a bearing for thesteering-rod and a fulcrum, a steering-rod engaging said bearingplate atits lower end and at its upper end a handle, an eccentric on saidsteering-rod and an eccentric-strap fulcrumed on said plate and arrangedaround said eccentric and having an arm to which the pivoted axles areconnected, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the steering rod or bar having an eccentricthereon, of a frame having a fiat bearing with a fulcrumal slot 0, and abearing for said steering-rod and a lever-like eccentric-strap arrangedaround said eccentric a fulcrumal bolt arranged in said slot 0, pivotedaxles at the opposite ends of said frame and connecting-rods joining thefree end of the lever-like strap to said pivotal axles, substantially asset forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this20th day of January, 1902.

WINTHROP L. MEAD.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL, O. B. PITNEY.

